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Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

EIN 24-0040340 · Pittsboro, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS HELPING THE CAROLINAS GROW AND EAT LOCAL, ORGANIC FOOD. WE ADVOCATE, EDUCATE AND BUILD CONNECTIONS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA CENTERED ON LOCAL AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
33
Volunteers
103
Highest pay
$122,114, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (6)
  1. $4.0 million spent. LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS: PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO LOCAL AND ORGANIC SMALL TO MIDSIZED FARMS AND FOOD BUSINESSES. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE FARMSSHARE PROGRAM DEVELOPING A NETWORK OF FARMS, FARMER COOPERATIVES, AND REGIONAL FOOD HUBS TO AGGREGATE IN-SEASON LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS AND DISTRIBUTE WEEKLY FOOD BOXES TO FAMILIES IN NEED WHILE ENSURING FAIR PAYMENT TO NETWORK PARTICIPANTS. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONSULTATION ON MARKET ACCESS, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND PASSING FOOD SAFETY COMPLIANCE AUDITS TO QUALIFY FOR WHOLESALE MARKETS.
  2. $546,806 spent. FARM SERVICES: PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS TO INCREASE THE USAGE OF SUSTAINABLE AND/OR ORGANIC PRODUCTION PRACTICES. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: MAINTAINING THE ELMA C LOMAX RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FARM, TRAINING WORKSHOPS, TOOLS AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS, AND DIRECT TECHNICAL CONSULTING AND SERVICES
  3. $340,627 spent. EDUCATION: PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT LOCAL, ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FARM TOURS, CONFERENCES, AND TRAINING WORKSHOPS, TARGETING ASSISTANCE TO NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS.
  4. $203,407 spent. POLICY: PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS TO PROMOTE FAIR FARM AND FOOD POLICIES FOR LOCAL AND ORGANIC SMALL TO MIDSIZED FARMS. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: COALITION BUILDING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL POLICY, LAW, AND REGULATION WITH AN IMPACT ON LOCAL AND ORGANIC, SMALL AND MIDSIZED FARMS AND FOOD BUSINESSES, AND THE MEMBER ADVOCACY PROGRAM (MAP) TEACHING ADVOCACY AND NETWORKING SKILLS TO ASSOCIATION MEMBERS INTERESTED IN LOCAL FOOD POLICY.
  5. $84,684 spent. MEMBER SERVICES: PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS FOR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. SERVICES INCLUDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO CONSULTATION, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, AND INFORMATION ON LOCAL AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.
  6. $25,934 spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.